Marcus Velleius Paterculus
Marcus Velleius Paterculus was a notable figure in early Roman history, recognized for his multifaceted roles as a soldier, magistrate, and senator. He began his military career in the army of Gaius Julius Caesar and later served under Tiberius for nine years, which significantly influenced his subsequent political trajectory. Following Tiberius's rise to power, Velleius entered the Roman Senate and embarked on writing his major work, the *Annales*, around 29 CE. This text, comprising two books, aimed to provide a concise history of Rome from its origins until that year and was dedicated to consul Marcus Vinicius.
While Velleius's work is often viewed as a response to the extensive historiography of his predecessors, particularly Livy, it is notable that much of the first book has been lost, leaving the second book, which covers the critical periods of Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Tiberius, as nearly complete. Scholars view Velleius's writing as a valuable albeit brief eyewitness account of Roman events during a transformative era. His perspective, though occasionally criticized for bias towards Tiberius, remains an important historical source for understanding this pivotal period in Roman history.
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Marcus Velleius Paterculus
Related civilization: Imperial Rome
Major role/position: Historian
Life
A soldier, magistrate, and senator, Marcus Velleius Paterculus (MAHR-kuhs vuh-LEE-yuhs puh-TUR-kyuh-luhs) began his career in the ranks of the army of Gaius Julius Caesar, son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, at the turn of the millennium. He subsequently served for nine years in the army of Tiberius, and this association with Augustus’s prospective successor proved to be the turning point in Velleius’s career. Following Tiberius’s ascension to the Roman throne, Velleius joined the ranks of the Roman senate and later began the composition of his Annales (c. 29 c.e.; Compendium of Roman History, 1924), an outline history of Rome in two books, from its beginnings to 29 c.e. Dedicated to Marcus Vinicius, the consul of 30 c.e., the work was intended for publication in the same year. Despite frequent references to a larger historical project, no other work survives under the name of Velleius Paterculus, who must have died soon after 30 c.e.
Influence
Velleius’s summary treatment of Roman history is generally viewed by scholars as reaction to a tradition of voluminous historiography culminating in the 142 books of Livy’s project (Ab urbe condita libri, c. 26 b.c.e.-15 c.e.; The History of Rome, 1600). Conclusions about the brevity of Velleius’s work may be exaggerated by the fact that the first of the two volumes (mythological times to the fall of Carthage in 146 b.c.e.) is largely lost. Book 2 (146 b.c.e.-29 c.e.) is virtually complete, and more than two-thirds of the narrative is devoted to the eras of Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Tiberius. Despite accusations of partiality regarding his treatment of Tiberius, Velleius’s account of the years between 14 and 29 c.e. should not be treated lightly, since it constitutes one of the very few eyewitness reports of a participant of contemporary events.
Bibliography
Sumner, G. V. “The Truth About Velleius Paterculus: Prolegomena.” HSCP 74 (1970): 257-297.
Woodman, A. J. “Questions of Date, Genre, and Style in Velleius: Some Literary Answers.” CQ 25 (1975): 272-306.
Woodman, A. J. Velleius Paterculus: The Caesarian and Augustan Narrative. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1983.
Woodman, A. J. Velleius Paterculus: The Tiberian Narrative. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1977.